Dubai: A powerful explosion ripped through a popular south Indian restaurant in Karama early on Tuesday, damaging shops, apartments and cars.
Officials said one person sustained minor injuries in the blast suspected to be a gas explosion at Ustad Hotel.
Just after the loud explosion at 7am, many residents rushed out while others were evacuated from the three-storey Al Maskan building which houses the restaurant on the ground floor.
A Civil Defence spokesperson told Gulf News a call about the incident was received around 7am. “The explosion resulted in a minor fire which was put out within five minutes by teams from Al Karama fire station,” he said.
Later, eyewitness Prince Arora told Gulf News that the effect of the blast was so huge that it ripped the Al Maskan building right through from ground to the third floor and shattered roof at the Emarat petrol pump opposite the building,”
“Even Aliya building, the one opposite Al Maskan, shook as if there was an earthquake, with the entrance glass front of Marlin furniture showroom on coming down,” Arora said.
At least seven shops in the Al Maskan building suffered extensive damages. The facade, balcony and windows of some flats above the eatery were also damaged. A police officer said glasses of eight cars were smashed.
Eyewitnesses said one car parked in front of the eatery was completely damaged. Many people reported splinter injuries. They included two staff at the Emarat petrol station, drivers of cars waiting to refuel, one woman who was standing in the balcony of her flat on the first floor of the building and another woman who was walking by the petrol station.
Mohammad Bineesh, the managing director of the restaurant, told Gulf News that the explosion took place when a driver was leaving the eatery after keeping the fish in the fridge. “He had just come, kept the fish and he was stepping out of the restaurant. He said he doesn’t know what exactly happened. The blast took place in the mezzanine floor which is a dining area.”
The driver was caught in the falling debris near the cash counter and escaped with minor injuries.
Bineesh said no other staff was present in the restaurant because of Ramadan.
Krishna Vijith, who lives on the second floor said she heard a huge sound and the building shook for a few seconds. “I thought it was an earthquake,..We just picked our kids and passports and rushed out. Then we saw everyone else also running out and the fire alarm went off.”
Eyewitnesses said nobody reported smelling any odour of a gas leak before or after the blast. The gas pipe line connection to the residences in the building, which was cut off for a couple of hours, was restored later and residents were allowed to return to their flats.
Police cordoned off the area and stopped traffic on the road between Al Maskan building and Emarat petrol station as cleanup operations progressed till late in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, fans of the Malayalee restaurant launched a social media campaign with the tag line “#withustadhotel praying for a comeback.” Some praised the outlet for its “tasty food, excellent service and charity initiatives.” Apparently, the eatery has been donating nearly 1000 iftar meals to workers in Sharjah’s Sajja Industrial Area every day.
With inputs from Noorhan Barakat, Staff Reporter
